Tour The Gorgeous Florida Estate Where Thomas Edison Spent His Winters
Thomas Edison, one of the most famous inventors of all time, would have been 167 years old today.
In memory of the American genius, here's a tour of his winter estate in Fort Meyers, Fla.
Edison purchased the property, located on the beautiful Caloosahatchee river, in 1885. The inventor's good friend, Henry Ford, bought the land next door several decades later.
Edison and Ford enjoyed fishing, boating, and planting exotic trees and plants during their leisurely winter stays.
The Edison family continued to visit the Florida retreat, dubbed Seminole Lodge, even after Edison's death in 1931. In 1947, Edison's wife, Mina Edison, deeded the property to the City of Fort Myers for $1. The Ford estate was acquired in 1988.
The property is now open for public tours, featuring Edison's botanical gardens, rubber laboratory, and a historical museum.